Matrix-setting and type-line-casting machine



April 1-7, 1934. H. w. E. uHTH F 1,955,036

MATRIX SETTING AND TYPE LINE CASTING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l T1 4 35 $5? w .35 T 3 1g 1 3 I l 19 W 7 5 r3 4 16 15 6B 6 g 16 1a 1/ y April 17, 1934. H. w. E. UHTHOFF 1,955,036

MATRIX SETTING AND TYPE LINE CASTING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a; as

April 17, 1934. H. w. E. UHTHOFF MATRIX SETTING AND TYPE LINE CASTING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 17, 1934 T osrrcs BIATRIX SETTING AND TYPE-LINE CASTING MACHINE Hermann Wilhelm Eduard Uhthoff, Berlin- Charlottenburg, Germany, assignor to thefirm Typograph G. m. b. 11., Berlin, Germany Application June 26, 1933. Serial No. 677,744 In Germany July 6, 1932 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in or modifications of the matrix-setting and typeline-casting machine according to U. S. A. application, Ser. No. 676,193 filed June ,26, 1933 in 5 which the matrix bars are circulated on wires and the set matrices are brought by means of a slider from the collecting station to the casting station, where they are line-justified and cast, and are thereupon raised to the distributing-wires by a conveying device constituting the casting station. In this prior machine the adjustments still necessary in this operation are carried out positively in the'correct sequence by means of only one control lever. The adjustment of the lifting device, which adjustment is necessary for the selection of a predetermined character of the matrices to be cast, is in this case effected by laterally turning the control lever mounted near the key-board of the machine. The said control lever, however, must be depressed again and then raised by the compositor after each setting operation for the purpose of inserting the matrix line, set in the collecting station, into the casting station and turning into position the movable line closing jaw and the starting of the machine connected therewith.

30 depressing, through an oversight, the pawl lever locking the said control lever, and occasionally also he must also convince himself of the fact that the adjustment of the control lever corresponding to the character to be cast is still en- 5 sured, which demands increased attention and may also be prejudicial to the output of the compositor.

An advantage over the foregoing is secured by the present invention by the provision of a device for adjusting the cam controlling the ramp rail, the said device being independent of the control lever which is now rigidly mounted on the actuating shaft. The displacement of the the depression of appropriate keys mounted on the key-board, the number of which keys agrees with the characters provided on a matrix bar, that is to say to the number of attainable heights 0 of .lift of the ramp rail. It is here particularly advantageous that, for changing the kind of letter, the compositor has merely to depress a key, an operation with which he is conversant. and an indicating device or the depressed key indicates to him at any time the kind of letter cam is effected, according to the invention, by-

which is actually adjusted. The position of the cam remains unaltered until another such key is depressed.

A constructional example of the invention is showndiagrammatically and by way of example in the. accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a part front view of the key-board and the actuating shaft of a matrix-setting ma: chine equipped according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a front View of the part carrying the actuating device for the cam, on a larger scale than Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a part plan of Figure 3, and

Figures 6 to 11 are front views of the individual parts shown in Figure 3 in their different positions determined by the depression of the key.

The control lever 2 to be operated by the compositor, after each setting operation, for raising the ramp rail 1, inserting the set matrices into the collecting station and turning into position the movable line clamping jaw, and the starting of the machine connected therewith, is rigidly mounted on the actuating shaft 4 rotatably mounted in the machine frame 3. The actuating shaft 4 is secured against lateral displacement by means of set rings 5, and carries, as in the application, Ser. No. 676,193 arms 6 and '7, which are rigidly mounted on it and are connected to 8 the rods 8, 9 operating the matrix slider or the line closing jaw and the starting clutch. The cam 11, operating the lifting rod 10 for the ramp rail 1, is mounted longitudinally slidable on the actuating shaft 4, for example by means of a slot and key, and carries, as in the application, Ser. No. 676,193 on its periphery the stepped cylindrical surfaces corresponding to the differ entheights of lift of the ramp rail 1, which stepped cylindrical surfaces, during the depression of the'control lever 2, are brought into en gagement with the roller 12 provided on the lifting rod 10. The hub of the cam 11 is again constructed in the form of a sleeve provided with an annular groove 13 engaged by one arm of the double-armed lever 14 mounted in the machine frame 3, which lever effects the lateral displacement of the said cam along the actuating shaft 4. The other arm of the double-armed lever 14 is hingedly engaged by a rod 15, the other end of which is pivoted to an ,arm 16 fast on a shaft 17 rotatably mounted in the machine frame 3 below the key-board. On the shaft 1'7 is also, secured an arm 18, by turning which the doublearmed lever 14 can be moved through the mesition shown in Figures 1, 3, 4, 6, '7, 8 and 10. A spring 21, secured for example to the machine frame 3 or to the frame 19, engages the arm 16 or the rod 15, and tends to bring thearm 18;,

always into the said upper position, which corresponds to' the position of the cam 11 required for the normal character. on which are secured within the frame 19 the stop levers 24 and 25, are rotatablymounted in The said stop levers project with their free ends into the path of thefree, end of the arm 18 moving in front of the frame the frame 19.

19. Two springs 26, 27, fixed to theplates, of.

the frame 19, tend to hold the lockingv levers 24, s

25, always in the position shown in Figures 3, 6, 8, 10 and 11, for locking the arm 18. A further upward movement ofthe locking, levers 24, 25, is. prevented by stop pins 28,29,1lxed in the frame 19. On one end of the pin 22, which. end is. situated outside the frame 19, and which pin is, mounted nearest the key-board and carries the upper'stop lever 24, is fixed an arm 30. In the same way, the arms 31 ,and321 are fixed to both ends of the pin 23, which ends are situated outside the frame 19 and which pin is remote from the key-board and carries thelowerstop lever 25. The keys 33, 34, 35, providedpwith projections and cranks, co-operate' withhthe said arms 30; 31, 32 and with the arm .18.. Bymeans of springs 36, mounted below the keyheads, the depressed keys are again returned in known manner into their initial positions,

The change-overdevice is so constructed according to the invention that, on thedepression of one. of the keys 33,34, 35, the arm 18 and stop, pins 3'7, 38 (Figures 3,, 4, 6, 7) which, on.

the depression of this key, are. brought into engagement. with the arms .30" and 31 fast on the pins 22 and 23 and turn the said'armsdownwardly against the action of the springs 26; 2'7.

The locking levers 24 and ,25'are thereby turned outxof the path 0f the lever 18,. so that they enter the frame 19. Thus, due to the depression of the key 33, the lever arm 18,. by the action of the spring 21 always arrives in the upper position shown ,in Figures3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10, corresponding to the position of the cam 11 neees-.v sary for thenormalcharaeter, irrespective as tov where it was situated before. The key 33;v the locking levers 24, 25 and the arms 30', 31, rease sume their initial'positions under the action of the springs 36v or 26, 27, without the arm 18 and the, cam 11 being moved'thereby.

, The key 34 engages by means of a pin 39 the lever arm 18, situated in its upper position (Fig ures 3, 6, 7, 8 and 16), andby meansof a'pin 40 engages the arm 32 of the-pin 23, while it has no connection with the lever arms. 30 and 31. Therefore on the depression of the key 34, the

The pins 22 ands23y lever arm 32 is turned downwardly through the medium of the pin 40, that is to say, the lower stop lever 25 connected rigidly to the said lever arm by the pin 23 is moved out of the path of the, leverv 18,,so that the latter, ifit. is situated in its .lower position as shown in Figure 11, is released, and is able to occupy the central position shown in Figure 9 behind the locking lever 24-. held by the spring 26 in the locking position. In the same way, on the depression of the key 34, therarm l8, situated for instance in its upper position (Figures 3, 6, 7, 8 and 10), is likewise, by means of the pin 39, turned behind the stop lever.24.- The key 34is now able to re-assume its initial position under the action of the spring 36, While the lever arm 18 and hence the cam 11 are locked bythe stop lever 24 and are held in the-position-shown in Figure 9.

The key,35 does not engage the locking levers 24, 25'. On its lower end is situated a pin 41 which, in theuppermostposition ofthe lever arm 18 (Figures 3, 6, 7,8 and. 10).,bears against'the said lever-arm, so that, on the ,depression of thekey 35, it is turned .past.,theresiliently mounted stop-levers :24, 25,. into. its ,lowest position-shown in Figurev 11, whereit isheldfast. bythetstop. lever 25 situated in the locking. position, even after the; spring. 36 has againmeturned the key.

35 into its initial position. onlyonthe depres sion of another key for. example 33 or 34.,will.

position in the mannerldescribed in the foregoing and be. brought by the spring,.2l ;.into the posi,-.,. tion corresponding to the'key (33 or 34). depressed at the, time. The keys 33, 34, 35-are crankedv andv bent attheirlower ends in a, peculiarmanner Ser. No. 676,193, filed June 26, 1933 ,there is also provided according. to theinvention, for facilitate ing supervision .by the, compositor, a pointer. 43. which moves in front of a scale 42 provided above the. key-board, the said pointerbeingcontrolled,

of the ramp rail 1. to the compositor at any ,timeexactly which char,- acter has been adjusted. Thepointer43 is con. stituted by a double-armed lever rotatable. about the pin 44 fixedto the machine, frame, 3, and,

moves with its tipin front of the scale 42', on

which the various kinds oflettersare denoted, The other, lower arm of. the

by special marks. pointer 43 engages the annular groove 13 of the sleeve forming the bearing of the cam 1 l, On lateral displacement of the cam 11 on the shaft the end of the pointer,43 engaging the annular groove 13 will consequently likewise be turned laterally andhence the tip of the pointersitus ated in front of the scale 42will ,bemovedcorrespondingly;

In the constructional example shown, the keys 33, 34, 35, after each depression, are returned again into their original positions of rest, ready for operation, by means of the springs 36-ar ranged below-their key head's. It is also possible, however, to-connect :th'etkeys .33; 34,- 35' in another manner already known; so that, by the depression ofv a key, the, previouslydepressed key is returned into-its initial position, while-the key last struckremains inits depressed position until it is-alsoreturned into, its initial position by the striking of another key. Theattention of I thev compositor is therebyrelieved, since' it is merely 1105 the lever arm -18 be released again fromits lowest 1 by. the cam ILinfiuencingthe vertical. position This indicating device shows.

necessary for him to cast a glance at the keys in order to ascertain which key has been depressed, that is to say, which character of the set matrices is being brought in front of the casting slot of the casting mould. Independently thereof, it is still possible for him to recognize the adjusted character by a glance at the abovementioned indicating device 42, 43.

What I claim is:

l. A matrix-setting and type-line-casting ma chine of the character described including in combination with a matrix collecting station, a ramp rail for effecting the vertical positioning of the matrices with respect to the collecting station, and means for operating the ramp rail including an adjustable cam and a main operating lever, of key operable means independentof the main operating lever for setting the cam.

2. A matrix-setting and type-line-casting machine including in combination a matrix collecting station, a casting station, a ramp rail in advance of the collecting station for effecting the vertical positioning of selected matrices, a lifting device for the ramp rail, a rotatable shaft, a cam adjustably mounted on the shaft for cooperating with the lifting device,'a slider, an operable connection between the shaft and slider, an operating lever on the shaft for effecting operation of the slider and the ramp through the cam and lifting device rail, and key operable means independent of the lever for setting the cam.

3. A matrix-setting and type-line-casting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key operable means for setting the cam includes a keyboard, keys thereon, a lever operable by depression of the keys, locking levers cooperating with the keys and last mentioned lever, and an operable connection between the last mentioned lever and the cam.

4. A matrix-setting and type-line-casting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key operable means for setting the cam includes a keyboard, keys thereon, a lever beneath the keyboard and operable on depression of the desired key, a frame also beneath the keyboard, spring pressed lever arms pivotally mounted in the frame and positioned so as to normally be in the path of movement of the lever for engaging and releasing the lever, and an operable connection between the lever and the cam.

5. A matrix-setting and type-line-casting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key operable means includes a keyboard, depressible keys thereon, a lever actuated by the keys, another lever for shifting the cam, a connecting rod between the levers, a spring acting in the rod for holding the latter in normal operative position, and means for limiting the swinging movement of the key operable lever.

6. Key operable means for the independent adjustment of a type setting cam in a matrix-setting and type-line-casting machine including a keyboard, keys thereon, a frame beneath the keyboard, a key actuated lever beneath the keyboard, operable connection means between the key operated lever and the cam, a spring acting to hold said connection in normal operative position, means on the frame for limiting the movement of the key operated lever, spring pressed pivotally mounted stop lever arms on the frame and in the path of movement of the key operated lever, and co-operative means on the depressible keys and on the frame for moving the stop levers at certain times out of the path of the key operated lever.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the co-operative means for moving the stop levers includes an arm fixed outside the frame to the pivot pin of one of the stop lever arms and two arms fixed in the same manner to the pivot pin of the other stop lever arm, and said three arms being engageable by two of the keys when depressed.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that two stop pins are provided on a crank of a key and on the depression of the key turn the arms moving the locking levers and thus release the path for the free end of the lever controlling the cam.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that two stop pins are provided on. a key, one of which on the depression of the key turns the lever controlling the cam while the other turns the second lever arm fixed to the pin so that only the lower stop lever is moved out of the path of the lever, and the latter is therefore brought by the pin or the spring behind the stop lever and is locked by the latter in its position.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that a key is provided with a stop pin which bears against the said lever held in its fundamental position by the stop of the frame so that on the depression of the key, the lever is brought with its free end behind the stop lever and is locked by the latter.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the keys normally returned automatically into their inoperative position by springs are connected together in another manner, previously known such that, by the depression of one key the previously depressed key is automatically returned into its initial position while the key last struck remains in its depressed position until it is again brought into its initial,

position by the striking of one of the other keys. HERMANN WILHELM EDUARD UHTHOFF. 

